Cleaning question...

[Aiala]

I bought some snazzy used ice-blue AccuPlates from Randy for my 501 project, and I'm wondering, is it safe to de-grease them in the usual Simple Green bath? I mean, it won't hurt the anodizing, right?   

~A~

[foakes]

Right, Aiala -- it will not hurt the anodizing -- but the plates are aluminum, tough to get, expensive, etc.

If it were me, I would just put them in my ultrasonic cleaner for 3 minutes with 50% simple green -- then rinse off with warm water.  Blow dry.  Then attack it with WD-40, a toothbrush, and a soft cloth that will not scratch.

Without a US cleaner -- just simple green sprayed and brushed to loosen and remove old grease and such -- then finish up with WD-40, toothbrush, Q-Tips, and a soft cloth.

WD-40 is a very poor lubricant for fishing reels -- it gums up, attracts dirt, and ends up leaving early.  But it is an outstandingly simple and gentle cleaner of grease and such, when you do not wish to harm any parts.  Plus, when I am completed with a reel after doing a service/restoration -- I lightly spray it with WD-40, then wipe it down as dry as possible.  This gets rid of any grease residue and fingerprints -- and leaves a nice sheen on all metals, plastics, bakelite, etc.  And also protects it when stored.

Probably no issues with being more aggressive -- I am just real careful with hard to obtain items on my clients reels, and my own.

Don't ask how I know these pitfalls...

Best,

Fred

[Bryan Young]

Simple green will work with no problems, but I too like to use WD-40 as a cleaner then I bath them in Dawn Dishwashing soap solution (like washing dishes), air dry then reassemble.

[DesertCatRat]

X2 on the simple green, I use it almost always along with dish soap, I don't do the wd though, maybe I wil try, but I have great success with the first two